Marine torch.



PATENTED NOV. 26, 1907.

A. F. J. JOHNSON.

MARINE TORGH.

APPLICATION FILED 1113.7. 1905.

111114 will lulu'. van ruin;

WW1/Lease@ No. 871,997. PATENTED NOV. 26, 1907.

A. F. J. JOHNSON.

MARINE TORCH. APPLICATION FILED TBB. 7. 1905.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Nil;

@vih/masas UNITED STATES ALEXANDER F. J. JOHNSON, OF LONDON, ENGLAND.

MARINE TORCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 26, 1907.

Application filed February 7| 1905. Serial No. 244x594.

To all 'whom 'it may concern:

Beit known that 1, ALEXANDER F. J. JOHNSON, a subject of the King of England, residing at London, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Marine Torches, of which the following is a speciiication.

The present invention relates to improvements in marine torches or devices by which an illuminating gas will be automatically generated and ignited when the torch is exposed to the action 0l water and particularly to such torches as are intended for use in connection with life buoys.

The object of the invention is to provide an inexpensive, simple and eflective device for supporting such a torch in a suspended position and by which the operation of releasing the life buoy from its holding means and throwing it overboard will release the torch connected with said buoy and automatically destroy the seals by which the water inlet and gas escape openings are normally closed,

One embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a torch constructed in accordance with the present invention; Fig. 2 is an elevation, partly in section, of the torch; Figs. 3 and f1 are, respectively, a front and side elevation of the cap for closing the upper end of the torch, the parts being shown in their closed position as in Fig, 1; Fig. 5 is a detail view showing the upper seal after it has been removed from the torch. Fig. 6 illustrates the torch connected with a life buoy and suspended from a ship rail.

Referring to the drawings in the several figures of which like reference characters designate corresponding parts, it will be seen that the torch consists of a cylindrical body 1 and two deine-shaped ends or heads 2, 3, suitably connected to opposite ends of said body. The entire shell thus formed is relatively light so that it is adapted to AI'loat and the weight is so proportioned that it will occupy the position shown in the drawings.

A cap 5 is adapted to close an opening formed at the lower end of the torch, said cap having threads which engage with an internally threaded flange 4 formed about the opening in the head 3. The cap 5 is provided with a suitable water inlet with which com- I municates a tube 26 that extends a suitable distance into the body ofthe torch.

Vithin an opening formed in the head 2 is secured a receptacle 7 adapted to support a suitable igniting substance such as ,phosphid of calcium, the upper end of said receptacle being closed by a removable cap S in which is formed an inlet or aperture 9 `for admitting water to the phosphid.

A tube 13, provided at intermediate peints of its length with suitable openings 13, extends longitudinally o'f the buoyant shell from the inner end of the receptacle 7 to the cap 5 and a perforated diaphragm or partition 14 connected to said tube 13, is arranged transversely across the body of the torch, dividing the same into a lower compartment 11 adapted to receive carbid of calcium, and an upper gas receiving chamber 29.

A tube 12 passes vertically through the phosphid chamber or compartment ol the torch and the upper end thereof extends into the opening 9 in the cap S. Said tube extends downwardly irom the phosphid receptacle 7, to the walls of which it may be secured, into the tube 13, and constitutes a burner or conduit for gas Yfrom the carbid chamber 11 to the upper end of the torch. ln the embodiment of the invention a single burner is shown, but it will be understood that any desired number may be employed.

A relatively small, and preferably 'l'lexible, metal rod 15 extends through the tubes 12, 13 and 26 and at its ends is secured respec tively to suitable seals 10, 16, by which the inlets or apertures 9, 6, in the caps at the ends of the torch are normally closed.

The seal 16 for closing the water inlet at the lower end of the torch may be `formed of red lead, soft solder or other similar material which, while normally adhering so closely to said rod. and the adjacent face of the cap 5 as to close said opening, and prevent the admis# sion of water, will be separated from the rod 15 when a sudden strain is exerted on said rod. The seal 10, by which the opening in the upper cap is closed, is preferably formed, as shown, of a plate or sheet of metal connected near one end with the rod 15 and extending over the opening 9, as aforesaid and having a portion 19 thereof bent about and engaging with a ring 2() by which the torch may be suspended. The portion 1S of said upper seal 10 is detachably secured to the surface of the cap 8, about the inlet 9 therein, by soft solder, or other suitable material and it will be seen that said seal acts to close both the water inlet to the phosphid compartment oi' the torch and also the outer end of the burner tube 12.

To the lower cap 5 of the torch is secured, by eyes or loops 28, a ring 27 adapted to be connected by any suitable means with a life buoy.

Normally the torch is suspended by the ring or loop 2() from a suitable pin or hook adjacent to the place where the buoy attached to the torch is supported and when the buoy is thrown overboard the torch is detached from said ring with a jerk which acts to break or destroy the seals to the water inlets communicating with both the carbid and phosphid compartments of the shell or body of the torch.

ln order that the seals by which the water inlets to the torch body are closed may be relieved from the weight of the torch and not be eX osed to such a strain as would tend to disloc ge them when the torch is suspended, a short rod 21 is preferably secured to the metal plate that forms the upper seal, the ends 22, sides of the seal and engage eyes 24, 25 secured in the upper cap S. lt will thus be seen that the weight or' the torch when suspended by the ring 20 is entirely borne by the rod or wire 21 instead of by the yielding plate or strip forming the upper seal and to which said ring 20 is connected.

rlhe tube 26 within the lower end of the torch serves as a guide for the rod 15 and also as a passage for conducting water from the inlet 6 to the interior of the carbid chamber 11 when the seal at that end of the torch is destroyed.

When not in use the torch is'suspended in any convenient position by means of the loop or ring 20, the lower end being, if desired, connected with a life buoy as above described, which is supported in any suitable manner. Then the buoy is thrown into the water, the jerk or strain upon the ringv 2O withdraws the ends 22 and 23 of the rod 21 from the eyes 24, 25 bending such rod into the position shown in Fig. 5, and tears the strip forming the upper seal 10 from the cap 8. rlhe rod 15 is thereby drawn upwardly thus destroying the seal at the lower end of the torch. That is the upward movement of the rod 15 destroys the seals at both ends of the torch and opens the water inlets and gas outlet or burner, and as the torch is submerged water enters both the phos hid chamber 7, through the opening 9, an the carbid chamber, through the openings 6 and 13a. Gas is thus generated in the chamber 11 and passes up through the pipe 13 to the burner tube 12 being ignited at the outer end of the latter by the phosphoreted hydrogen 23 of which rod project beyond the escaping through the aperture 9 in the cap S as soon as the torch rises to the surface. rlhe gas which accumulates in the upper chamber 29 of the torch assists in maintaining the same in proper upright position.

lf desired the portion 19 of the seal for the upper end of the torch may be made stiffer than the other portions of the seal so as to act as a lever when' tearing off the seal.

Instead of arranging the parts as above described, the loop or ring 20 may be ned directly to the rod or wire 21 and the seal eX- tend only from such rod to the rod 15, or the loop 20 may be dispensed with, the torch in that case being suspended by any suitable means attached to the rod 21.

l/Vhile as above stated the torch is particularly applicable for use with life buoys and is provided with means by which it can beconnected with such a device it will be evident that the wire or rod 21 may be detached 'from the holding eyes 24 and 25 by a sudden pull or jerk on the torch while said rod is held stationary so that the torch is adapted for use for a variety oi purposes other than in connection with buoys.

What is claimed is:

1. ln a marine torch, the combination with a buoyant shell having two independent compartments formed therein, and each communicating with a water inlet, and means for sealing said water inlets, of means 'for simultaneously rupturing the seals of said inlets.

2. ln a marine torch, the combination with a buoyant shell having its interior divided into two independent compartments and provided with a plurality of water inlets communicating with both said compartments, means detachably connected with the shell for suspendingv the same from a suitable support, and connections between said suspending means and the seals of inlets to both compartments of the shell, whereby said seals will be destroyed when the shell is detached from its suspending means.

3. The combination with a marine torch comprising a buoyant shell having therein means adapted to generate and ignite an illuminating gas when water is admitted thereto, and means for sealing the passages through which water is admitted to said shell, of means connected independently of the sealing means with the body of the torch for suspending said torch when not'in use, and means for automatically destroying the seals of said water passages when the torch is detached from said suspending means.

4. The combination with a marine torch comprising a buoyant shell having therein means adapted to generate and ignite an illuminating gas when water is admitted thereto, and means for sealing the passages through which water is admitted to said shell, of a ring or loop and means for detachsog ably connecting it with said torch for sus pending the same Afrom a suitable support, and connections between said ring or loop and the seals of the water passages, whereby said seals will be destroyed when said ring is detached from the torch.

5. In a marine torch, the combination with a buoyant shell having two independent compartments formed therein, one ol said compartments having a plurality of openings, and the other of said compartments having an opening contiguous to one of the openings of said irst mentioned compartment, and means for sealing said openings, of means for simultaneously rupturing the seals of said openings.

6. The combination with a marine torch comprising a buoyant shell having therein means adapted to generate and ignite an illuminating gas when water is admitted thereto, and means for sealing the passages through which water is admitted to the shell, of means permanently connected with the torch whereby it can be attached to a life buoy, supporting means detachably connected with the torch, and means Afor automatically opening the water passages in the torch when it is detached .from its supporting means.

7. rl.`he combination with a marine torch comprising a buoyant shell having therein means adapted to generate and ignite an illuminating gas when water is admitted thereto, and means lor sealing the passages through which water is admitted to said shell, of a device for suspending the torch when not in use connected to said means for sealing the water inlets of the torch.

8. ln a marine torch, the combination of a buoyant shell having therein means adapted to generate and ignite an illuminating gas when water is admitted thereto, a ilexible strip adapted to close an inlet by which water is admitted to said shell, a ring or loop attached to said strip for suspending the torch, and means for relieving said strip from the weight of the torch when suspended by said ring.

9. In a marine torch, the combination of a buoyant shell having therein means adapted to generate and ignite an illuminatgas when water is admitted thereto, a ilexible strip adapted to close an inlet by which water is admitted to said shell, a ring or loop attached so said strip for suspending the torch, and a rod secured to said flexible strip and extending laterally therefrom into engagement with suitable projections on the shell of the torch. ai

10. In a marine torch, the combination with a buoyant shell divided interiorly into two independent compartments and provided at opposite ends with water inlets, and means in said compartments adapted to generate and ignite an illuminating gas when water is admitted thereto, of a sealing strip secured to the body of the torch to close one of said inlets, and means connected with said strip l'or sealing the other inlet.

1l. ln a marine torch, the combination with a buoyant shell divided interiorly into two independent compartments and provided at opposite ends with water inlets, and

means in said compartments adapted to generate and ignite an illuminating gas when water is admitted thereto, of a sealing strip secured to the body of the torch to close one of said inlets, means connected to said strip for sealing the other inlet, and a suspending device for the torch. connected with said strip.

12. ln a marine torch, the combination of a buoyant shell havingl two independent compartments formed therein and each communicating with a water inlet, said inlets being arranged at opposite sides of the torch, a sealing strip secured to the shell and closing one of said inlets, a rod secured to said strip and extending through the shell to seal the other ol" said inlets, and means for suspending the torch attached to said strip, substantially as and lor the purpose described.

In testimony whereof l have signed my name to this speci'lication in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ALEXANDER F. J. JOHNSON.

illitnesses WV. STANLEY, J. MAAs. 

